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A2 noun #3,000 le plus courant 10 min de lecture

der Donnerstag

Top 3,000

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces der Donnerstag en 30 secondes

Explication der Donnerstag in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'der Donnerstag' is introduced as one of the seven basic days of the week. Learners focus on memorizing the name and its position in the calendar. The primary goal is to be able to answer the question 'Welcher Tag ist heute?' (Which day is today?) and to use the preposition 'am' correctly for simple scheduling. At this stage, students learn that all days are masculine ('der') and that they are always capitalized. Typical sentences include 'Heute ist Donnerstag' or 'Ich habe am Donnerstag Zeit'. The focus is on building a basic survival vocabulary for daily life and appointments. Learners are also taught the abbreviation 'Do.' which they will see on signs and in calendars. It is essential to distinguish it from 'Dienstag' early on to avoid common scheduling errors. Simple routines are described, such as 'Am Donnerstag spiele ich Fußball'. The emphasis is on clear, slow pronunciation and understanding the word in a list of other days.

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At the A2 level, learners expand their use of 'der Donnerstag' by incorporating it into more complex sentence structures and routines. They learn to use the adverbial form 'donnerstags' to describe recurring actions, such as 'Ich gehe donnerstags immer einkaufen'. The concept of 'jeden Donnerstag' (every Thursday) is introduced to express frequency. Learners start to use compound words like 'Donnerstagabend' or 'Donnerstagmorgen' to be more specific about time. They also begin to handle past and future references, using 'letzten Donnerstag' (last Thursday) and 'nächsten Donnerstag' (next Thursday) with correct accusative endings. The CEFR A2 learner is expected to be able to make, change, and cancel appointments on specific days. For example, 'Können wir den Termin von Mittwoch auf Donnerstag verschieben?' (Can we move the appointment from Wednesday to Thursday?). This level also touches upon cultural aspects, like the fact that Thursday is a common day for late-night shopping in some German cities.

By the B1 level, 'der Donnerstag' is used fluently in a variety of social and professional contexts. Learners can discuss more abstract concepts, such as work-life balance or cultural traditions associated with specific days. They become familiar with terms like 'Gründonnerstag' in the context of Easter traditions. In a business setting, B1 learners use 'Donnerstag' to set deadlines and manage project timelines, often using prepositions like 'bis' (until) or 'ab' (from). For example, 'Das Projekt muss bis Donnerstag abgeschlossen sein'. They also understand the informal term 'Vizefreitag' and its social implications in the German workplace. At this stage, word order becomes more natural, and learners correctly place 'am Donnerstag' within the 'Time-Manner-Place' (TMP) structure of German sentences. They can also read more complex texts, such as a weekly work schedule or a cinema program that starts its run on a Thursday. Their vocabulary includes more specific compounds like 'Donnerstagsausgabe' (Thursday edition of a newspaper).

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At the B2 level, the use of 'der Donnerstag' becomes nuanced and stylistically varied. Learners can engage in detailed discussions about the etymology of the word, linking it to the god Thor and the Latin 'dies Iovis'. They are comfortable using the genitive case, such as 'während des Donnerstags' (during Thursday), although this remains more common in writing. B2 learners can understand and use idiomatic expressions or cultural references related to the day. They might discuss the impact of 'Europa League' matches on Thursday evenings on city traffic or social life. Their ability to use compounds is advanced, creating or understanding words like 'Donnerstagsnachmittagskaffee'. They can also distinguish between 'diesen Donnerstag' and 'nächsten Donnerstag' with the precision required to avoid ambiguity. In formal writing, they can structure reports or emails that refer back to events occurring on a Thursday with sophisticated transitional phrases. They also begin to notice regional variations in how the day might be celebrated or viewed in different parts of the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).

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C1 learners possess a near-native command of 'der Donnerstag', using it with high precision and stylistic flexibility. They can interpret the word within complex literary or historical texts where the specific day might hold symbolic meaning. In professional environments, they use Thursday as a strategic point for planning, negotiating deadlines with subtle linguistic cues. They are fully aware of the socio-cultural 'rhythm' of the week in German-speaking countries and can use this knowledge to build rapport with colleagues (e.g., making a joke about 'Vizefreitag' at the appropriate time). Their pronunciation is refined, capturing the subtle vocalized 'r' in 'Donnerstag'. They can also handle complex grammatical structures involving the day, such as 'Der für Donnerstag geplante Streik' (The strike planned for Thursday). C1 learners can write detailed essays or reports where 'Donnerstag' might be a recurring temporal anchor, maintaining perfect case endings and word order throughout. They also understand the historical development of the word from Old High German 'donarestag'.

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At the C2 level, 'der Donnerstag' is used with the sophistication of a highly educated native speaker. The learner can appreciate and use the word in all its registers, from the most informal slang to the most formal academic or legal prose. They might explore the philosophical implications of the 'weekly cycle' in literature or analyze the linguistic evolution of weekday names in Germanic languages. A C2 learner can effortlessly switch between 'am Donnerstag', 'donnerstags', and 'jeden Donnerstag' to achieve specific rhetorical effects in their speech or writing. They have a deep understanding of regional dialects and how 'Donnerstag' might be pronounced or colloquially modified in different areas. They are also familiar with obscure historical or religious references involving Thursday. In a professional capacity, they can lead meetings or write high-level documents where the scheduling of 'Donnerstag' is integrated into complex logical arguments. Their mastery is such that the word is no longer a 'vocabulary item' but a fully integrated part of their linguistic and cultural identity in German.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

der Donnerstag en 30 secondes

Donnerstag is the German word for Thursday, the fourth day of the week.
It is a masculine noun (der Donnerstag) and is always capitalized.
The name comes from 'Donner' (thunder), referring to the god Thor.
Commonly used with 'am' for specific dates or 'donnerstags' for habits.

The German noun der Donnerstag refers to the fourth day of the traditional work week, situated between Wednesday (Mittwoch) and Friday (Freitag). For English speakers, the transition to learning German week days is often intuitive because both languages share Germanic roots. The word itself is a compound consisting of Donner (thunder) and Tag (day). This is a direct translation of the Latin dies Iovis, which was dedicated to Jupiter, the god of thunder. In Germanic mythology, this role was filled by Thor (or Donar), hence the name 'Thor's Day' in English and 'Donnerstag' in German.

Temporal Position: In the ISO 8601 standard used in Germany, Thursday is the fourth day of the week, following the 'mountain' of the week, Wednesday.

Heute ist der Donnerstag, der einundzwanzigste Mai.

In modern German culture, Thursday holds a special psychological place. It is often referred to informally as Vizefreitag (Vice-Friday), reflecting the anticipation of the upcoming weekend. Many people use this day to wrap up major projects so that Friday can be spent on administrative tasks or an early departure. Socially, it is a popular night for 'After-Work' parties or cultural events, as people feel the pressure of the week lifting. Understanding this cultural nuance helps a learner use the word not just as a calendar entry, but as a marker of social rhythm.

Grammatical Gender: All days of the week in German are masculine, so it is always 'der' Donnerstag.

Wir treffen uns jeden Donnerstag im Café.

Historically, Thursday was also a day for markets and judicial proceedings in various German regions. In the religious calendar, Gründonnerstag (Maundy Thursday) is a significant day before Easter. This deep historical and religious embedding means that the word appears frequently in literature, legal documents, and daily schedules. Whether you are booking a doctor's appointment or planning a dinner with friends, 'der Donnerstag' will be one of your most frequently used temporal markers.

Der nächste Donnerstag ist ein Feiertag.

Compound Potential: German loves compounds; you will often see 'Donnerstagabend' (Thursday evening) or 'Donnerstagsspiel' (Thursday game).

Am Donnerstagvormittag habe ich keine Zeit.

Können wir den Termin auf Donnerstag verschieben?

Using der Donnerstag correctly involves mastering its role as a temporal noun. Most commonly, it appears in the dative case following the preposition am (a contraction of an dem). For example, to say 'on Thursday,' you must say 'am Donnerstag.' If you want to express a recurring action that happens every Thursday, you have two options: you can use the adverb donnerstags (lowercase) or the phrase jeden Donnerstag (accusative case). Understanding these subtle shifts is key to sounding like a native speaker.

Specific vs. General: Use 'am Donnerstag' for a one-time event and 'donnerstags' for habits.

Ich gehe donnerstags immer zum Sport.

When 'Donnerstag' is the subject of the sentence, it takes the nominative 'der'. When it is the direct object, such as when you 'love' or 'hate' a specific day, it takes the accusative 'den'. However, because 'Donnerstag' is a masculine noun ending in a consonant, the nominative and accusative forms only differ in the article. In the genitive case, which shows possession or association, it becomes 'des Donnerstags'. This is often used in formal writing, such as 'die Sitzung des Donnerstags' (the Thursday session).

Plural Form: The plural is 'die Donnerstage', though it is less common than using 'jeden Donnerstag'.

Die Donnerstage in diesem Monat sind alle verplant.

Compound nouns are extremely frequent. You might talk about Donnerstagmittag (Thursday noon) or Donnerstagnacht (Thursday night). In these cases, the gender of the whole word is determined by the last element. Since 'Tag', 'Mittag', and 'Abend' are masculine, these compounds remain 'der'. However, 'Donnerstagnacht' is feminine because 'die Nacht' is feminine. This is a crucial rule for learners to internalize when describing specific times of the day.

Er arbeitet meistens bis Donnerstagabend.

Prepositional Phrases: 'Ab Donnerstag' (from Thursday), 'Bis Donnerstag' (until Thursday), 'Seit Donnerstag' (since Thursday).

Das Angebot gilt erst ab Donnerstag.

Wir sehen uns am nächsten Donnerstag.

You will encounter der Donnerstag in nearly every facet of German life. In the workplace, it is the day of 'Jour Fixe' meetings and deadline reminders. Employees often discuss their plans for the weekend starting on Thursday, leading to the common usage of the term Vizefreitag. In radio broadcasts and news segments, you will hear it during weather forecasts and event announcements. For example, a presenter might say, 'Am Donnerstag bleibt es überwiegend sonnig' (On Thursday it will remain mostly sunny).

In the Office: Colleagues might say: 'Schaffen wir das bis Donnerstag?' (Can we get this done by Thursday?)

Die Präsentation muss am Donnerstag fertig sein.

In the retail sector, Thursday is often the day when new weekly offers begin or when cinema movies are released. Movie theaters in Germany traditionally start their new program on a Thursday. Therefore, you will see 'Ab Donnerstag im Kino' (In cinemas from Thursday) on posters throughout every German city. This cultural habit makes Thursday an important day for entertainment planning. Similarly, supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl often have their 'Aktionstage' (promotion days) starting on Thursdays, which is a frequent topic of conversation among budget-conscious shoppers.

Public Transport: Timetables often distinguish between 'Mo-Do' (Monday to Thursday) and 'Fr-So' (Friday to Sunday).

Der Bus fährt von Montag bis Donnerstag alle zehn Minuten.

In educational settings, students often have their most challenging classes or labs scheduled for the middle to end of the week. Hearing a student complain, 'Nicht schon wieder ein Test am Donnerstag!' (Not another test on Thursday!) is quite common. In sports, especially European football, the UEFA Europa League matches are famously played on Thursday nights, leading to the phrase 'Donnerstagabend in der Europa League'. This has become a staple in sports commentary and fan discussions across the country.

Das Spiel findet diesen Donnerstag statt.

Religious Context: In regions like Bavaria, religious holidays like Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) always fall on a Thursday.

Nächsten Donnerstag ist in Bayern schulfrei.

One of the most frequent mistakes for beginners is confusing Donnerstag with Dienstag (Tuesday). Both start with the letter 'D' and have two syllables, leading to many missed appointments! A good way to remember is that 'Donner' means 'thunder', and thunder is loud and 'comes later' in the week's stormy progression. Another common error involves the misuse of prepositions. English speakers often try to say 'auf Donnerstag' or 'in Donnerstag' when they mean 'on Thursday'. In German, the only correct way to say 'on' for days of the week is am.

The 'D' Confusion: Dienstag = Tuesday (2nd day). Donnerstag = Thursday (4th day). Think: 'Die' (2) vs 'Don' (4 letters in 'Thor').

Falsch: Ich komme in Donnerstag. Richtig: Ich komme am Donnerstag.

Capitalization is another stumbling block. German nouns are always capitalized, so 'Donnerstag' must have a capital 'D'. However, when it becomes an adverb to describe a recurring event ('on Thursdays'), it must be lowercase: 'donnerstags'. Mixing these up is a tell-tale sign of a learner. Additionally, when using 'every Thursday', many students forget the correct case. It should be 'jeden Donnerstag' (accusative), not 'jedem Donnerstag'.

The 'Am' vs 'Im' Error: Use 'im' for months (im Mai) and 'am' for days (am Donnerstag).

Falsch: Wir treffen uns im Donnerstag. Richtig: Wir treffen uns am Donnerstag.

Pronunciation can also be tricky. The 'o' in 'Donnerstag' is short, like the 'o' in the English word 'donkey'. Some learners try to stretch it out into a long 'o' because of the English 'Thursday', but this sounds unnatural. The 'r' after the 'e' in 'Donner' is often vocalized as a soft 'ah' sound in many German dialects ([ˈdɔnɐstaːk]). Focusing on that short 'o' and the clear 't' in 'Tag' will significantly improve your accent and make you more easily understood by native speakers.

Achten Sie auf die Aussprache: Donnerstag hat ein kurzes 'o'.

Word Order: In German, time often comes before manner and place (TMP rule). 'Ich fahre am Donnerstag mit dem Bus nach Berlin.'

While der Donnerstag is a specific day, there are several related terms and alternatives depending on the context. If you want to refer to the day in a more casual way, you might hear the slang term Vizefreitag. This isn't a literal synonym but a cultural one, emphasizing the proximity to the weekend. In business or academic contexts, you might use more technical terms like der vierte Wochentag (the fourth day of the week) or refer to it as part of die Wochenmitte (the middle of the week), although Wednesday is more strictly the middle.

Donnerstag vs. Dienstag: Dienstag is Tuesday. Both are 'D-days', but Donnerstag is Thor's day and Dienstag is Týr's day.

Nicht Dienstag, sondern Donnerstag ist unser Termin.

In terms of grammar, you can replace the noun phrase 'am Donnerstag' with the adverb donnerstags. Note the difference in nuance: 'am Donnerstag' usually implies a specific upcoming Thursday, while 'donnerstags' implies every Thursday. Another alternative is jeden Donnerstag, which is more emphatic about the regularity. If you are talking about the Thursday of a specific week, you might say dieser Donnerstag (this Thursday) or jener Donnerstag (that Thursday, usually in a narrative context).

Religious Alternatives: Gründonnerstag (Maundy Thursday) is the specific name for the Thursday in Holy Week.

An Gründonnerstag essen viele Menschen traditionell etwas Grünes.

When discussing schedules, you might hear der kommende Donnerstag (the coming Thursday) or der vergangene Donnerstag (the past Thursday). These are more precise than 'next' or 'last', which can sometimes be ambiguous. For example, if it is currently Monday, does 'next Thursday' mean the one in three days or the one in ten days? Using 'der kommende' removes this confusion. In some dialects, especially in Northern Germany, you might hear slight variations in pronunciation, but the word itself remains the standard across the entire German-speaking world.

Der kommende Donnerstag ist der letzte Tag des Monats.

Compound Comparison: Donnerstagmorgen (morning) vs. Donnerstagmittag (noon) vs. Donnerstagabend (evening).

How Formal Is It?

Formel

"Die Sitzung findet am kommenden Donnerstag statt."

Neutre

"Ich habe am Donnerstag einen Termin beim Arzt."

Informel

"Schönen Vizefreitag! Was machst du heute?"

Child friendly

"Am Donnerstag gehen wir auf den Spielplatz!"

Argot

"Donnerstagabend wird eskaliert!"

Le savais-tu ?

In many languages, Thursday is named after the god of thunder. In Latin-based languages like French (jeudi) or Spanish (jueves), it's Jupiter. In Germanic languages like German (Donnerstag) or English (Thursday), it's Thor/Donar.

Guide de prononciation

UK [ˈdɔnɐstaːk]

US [ˈdɔnərstɑːk]

The primary stress is on the first syllable: DON-ner-stag.

Rime avec

Tag Schlag Mag Vertrag Belag Guten Tag Nachmittag Feiertag

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'Th' like in English 'Thursday'. There is no 'th' sound in German.
Making the 'o' too long, like 'Dohnerstag'. It should be short.
Forgetting the 'k' sound at the end of 'Tag'.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'Dienstag'.
Over-emphasizing the 'r' instead of letting it vocalize.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text due to its similarity to the English concept and standard capitalization.

Écriture 2/5

Moderate difficulty due to capitalization rules and the adverbial 'donnerstags' vs noun 'Donnerstag'.

Expression orale 2/5

Main challenge is avoiding the English 'Th' sound and distinguishing it from 'Dienstag'.

Écoute 2/5

Can be confused with 'Dienstag' in fast speech or noisy environments.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

Tag Woche der am jeden

Apprends ensuite

Freitag Wochenende Datum Monat Uhrzeit

Avancé

Wochenrhythmus Feiertag Terminkalender Vizefreitag Zeitmanagement

Grammaire à connaître

Temporal Prepositions with Days

Use 'am' for specific days: 'am Donnerstag'.

Adverbs of Frequency

Add '-s' and use lowercase for habits: 'donnerstags'.

Capitalization of Nouns

All days of the week are nouns and must be capitalized: 'der Donnerstag'.

Masculine Gender for Days

All days are masculine: 'der Montag', 'der Dienstag', 'der Donnerstag'.

Time before Manner before Place (TMP)

Ich fahre (T) am Donnerstag (M) mit dem Auto (P) nach Berlin.

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Exemples par niveau

Heute ist Donnerstag.

Today is Thursday.

Simple nominative sentence.

Ich komme am Donnerstag.

I am coming on Thursday.

Use 'am' for specific days.

Ist am Donnerstag Schule?

Is there school on Thursday?

Question form with 'am'.

Der Donnerstag ist mein Lieblingstag.

Thursday is my favorite day.

Masculine article 'der'.

Wir spielen am Donnerstag Tennis.

We are playing tennis on Thursday.

Time (am Donnerstag) comes before the activity.

Donnerstag ist der vierte Tag.

Thursday is the fourth day.

Ordinal number 'vierte'.

Hast du am Donnerstag Zeit?

Do you have time on Thursday?

Common question for making plans.

Nein, am Donnerstag arbeite ich.

No, I am working on Thursday.

Inversion: Verb 'arbeite' comes after the time phrase.

Ich gehe donnerstags immer schwimmen.

I always go swimming on Thursdays.

Adverb 'donnerstags' for recurring events.

Wir treffen uns jeden Donnerstag im Park.

We meet every Thursday in the park.

'Jeden Donnerstag' is accusative.

Was machst du diesen Donnerstagabend?

What are you doing this Thursday evening?

Compound word 'Donnerstagabend'.

Letzten Donnerstag war ich krank.

Last Thursday I was sick.

Past tense with 'letzten Donnerstag'.

Können wir uns am nächsten Donnerstag sehen?

Can we see each other next Thursday?

'Am nächsten Donnerstag' is dative.

Am Donnerstagmorgen trinke ich gerne Kaffee.

On Thursday morning I like to drink coffee.

Compound word 'Donnerstagmorgen'.

Das Kino zeigt ab Donnerstag neue Filme.

The cinema shows new movies starting Thursday.

Preposition 'ab' for 'starting from'.

Ich habe bis Donnerstag Zeit für das Projekt.

I have until Thursday for the project.

Preposition 'bis' for 'until'.

Donnerstag ist für viele der Vizefreitag.

For many, Thursday is the 'Vice-Friday'.

Cultural slang 'Vizefreitag'.

Die Besprechung wurde auf Donnerstag verschoben.

The meeting was postponed to Thursday.

Passive voice with 'auf' + accusative.

Jeden Donnerstagvormittag findet der Markt statt.

Every Thursday morning the market takes place.

Compound 'Donnerstagvormittag' in accusative.

Ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Donnerstag.

I am already looking forward to next Thursday.

Verb 'sich freuen auf' + accusative.

Am Donnerstagabend schauen wir oft Fußball.

On Thursday evening we often watch football.

Common social activity description.

Seit letztem Donnerstag habe ich Urlaub.

I have been on vacation since last Thursday.

'Seit' + dative case.

Könnten Sie mir bis Donnerstag Bescheid geben?

Could you let me know by Thursday?

Polite request in subjunctive II.

Gründonnerstag ist ein wichtiger Tag vor Ostern.

Maundy Thursday is an important day before Easter.

Specific religious term.

Die Wirksamkeit des Medikaments wurde am Donnerstag bestätigt.

The effectiveness of the drug was confirmed on Thursday.

Formal passive construction.

Wegen des Feiertags am Donnerstag bleibt das Büro geschlossen.

Due to the holiday on Thursday, the office remains closed.

'Wegen' + genitive case.

Donnerstags finden in dieser Bar immer Jazz-Konzerte statt.

On Thursdays, jazz concerts always take place in this bar.

Adverbial usage for regularity.

Wir müssen die Planung für kommenden Donnerstag finalisieren.

We need to finalize the planning for the coming Thursday.

Adjective 'kommenden' as a precise marker.

Der Donnerstagabend steht ganz im Zeichen der Europa League.

Thursday evening is all about the Europa League.

Idiomatic expression 'im Zeichen stehen'.

Trotz des Regens am Donnerstag war die Veranstaltung gut besucht.

Despite the rain on Thursday, the event was well attended.

'Trotz' + genitive case.

Er erwähnte beiläufig, dass er erst am Donnerstag zurückkehrt.

He mentioned in passing that he won't return until Thursday.

Indirect speech / subordinate clause.

Die Donnerstagsausgabe der Zeitung ist besonders dick.

The Thursday edition of the newspaper is particularly thick.

Compound with 's' connector (Fugen-s).

Die für Donnerstag anberaumte Sitzung wurde kurzfristig abgesagt.

The meeting scheduled for Thursday was canceled at short notice.

Extended participial attribute.

Es ist fraglich, ob der Bericht bis Donnerstag fertiggestellt sein wird.

It is questionable whether the report will be completed by Thursday.

Future II or passive completion.

Die kulturelle Bedeutung des Gründonnerstags variiert regional stark.

The cultural significance of Maundy Thursday varies greatly by region.

Genitive case with a specific noun.

Donnerstags pflegt er seine Korrespondenz zu erledigen.

On Thursdays, he is accustomed to handling his correspondence.

Refined verb 'pflegen' + zu-infinitive.

Der Donnerstag markiert oft den Wendepunkt der Arbeitswoche.

Thursday often marks the turning point of the work week.

Abstract metaphorical usage.

Sollte der Termin am Donnerstag platzen, müssen wir neu planen.

Should the appointment on Thursday fall through, we must replan.

Subjunctive I for hypothetical conditions.

Die am vergangenen Donnerstag getroffene Entscheidung ist endgültig.

The decision made last Thursday is final.

Passive participle as an attribute.

Man munkelt, dass die Ankündigung bereits am Donnerstag erfolgt.

Rumor has it that the announcement will take place as early as Thursday.

Impersonal 'man' and 'erfolgen'.

In der Retrospektive erscheint jener Donnerstag als der Tag des Umschwungs.

In retrospect, that Thursday appears as the day of the turnaround.

Demonstrative 'jener' for narrative distance.

Der Donnerstag, historisch dem Donar geweiht, birgt archaische Reminiszenzen.

Thursday, historically dedicated to Donar, holds archaic reminiscences.

Apposition and elevated vocabulary.

Es war an einem Donnerstag, als sich die Ereignisse zuspitzten.

It was on a Thursday when the events came to a head.

Narrative 'Es war an einem...' structure.

Die donnerstägliche Routine wird nur selten durch Unvorhergesehenes unterbrochen.

The Thursday routine is only rarely interrupted by the unforeseen.

Adjective 'donnerstäglich' (rare/formal).

Ungeachtet der am Donnerstag herrschenden Widrigkeiten hielten sie am Plan fest.

Regardless of the adversities prevailing on Thursday, they stuck to the plan.

Preposition 'ungeachtet' + genitive.

Die Genese des Begriffs 'Donnerstag' lässt sich bis ins Althochdeutsche zurückverfolgen.

The genesis of the term 'Donnerstag' can be traced back to Old High German.

Academic 'sich lassen' construction.

Manch einer mag den Donnerstag als bloßes Intervall zum Wochenende betrachten.

Some might view Thursday as a mere interval to the weekend.

Indefinite pronoun 'manch einer'.

Das Protokoll des besagten Donnerstags gibt Aufschluss über den Hergang.

The minutes of the Thursday in question provide information about the sequence of events.

Adjective 'besagten' (legal/formal).

Collocations courantes

am Donnerstag

jeden Donnerstag

nächsten Donnerstag

letzten Donnerstag

Donnerstagabend

Donnerstagmorgen

bis Donnerstag

ab Donnerstag

kommender Donnerstag

Gründonnerstag

Phrases Courantes

Bis Donnerstag!

— A common way to say goodbye when you expect to see someone on Thursday.

Schönen Abend noch! Bis Donnerstag!

Am Donnerstag geht es los.

— Used to announce the start of an event or project on Thursday.

Die Reise ist geplant. Am Donnerstag geht es los.

Was ist am Donnerstag?

— Asking about plans or events scheduled for that day.

Ich habe den Kalender nicht hier. Was ist am Donnerstag?

Donnerstags ist Ruhetag.

— Commonly seen on shop or restaurant signs indicating they are closed on Thursdays.

Wir wollten essen gehen, aber donnerstags ist Ruhetag.

Gleich ist Donnerstag.

— Expressing that Thursday is approaching quickly, often with a sense of deadline pressure.

Beeil dich mit dem Bericht, gleich ist Donnerstag.

Jeden zweiten Donnerstag.

— Specifying a bi-weekly occurrence.

Die Müllabfuhr kommt jeden zweiten Donnerstag.

Am Donnerstag ist Feiertag.

— Informing someone that Thursday is a public holiday.

Vergiss nicht, am Donnerstag ist Feiertag, die Läden sind zu.

Verschieben wir es auf Donnerstag.

— Suggesting to move an appointment to Thursday.

Morgen schaffe ich es nicht. Verschieben wir es auf Donnerstag.

Seit Donnerstagabend.

— Indicating a duration starting from Thursday evening.

Ich habe seit Donnerstagabend Kopfschmerzen.

Ein typischer Donnerstag.

— Describing a day that follows the usual Thursday routine.

Viel Arbeit, wenig Schlaf – ein typischer Donnerstag.

Souvent confondu avec

der Donnerstag vs Dienstag

Tuesday. Often confused because both start with 'D'. Remember: Donnerstag is later in the week.

der Donnerstag vs Donner

Thunder. 'Donnerstag' is the day, 'Donner' is the sound in the sky.

der Donnerstag vs Döner

A popular Turkish kebab. Sounds slightly similar to the first syllable of Donnerstag.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Donnerstag ist Vizefreitag."

— A popular modern saying suggesting that Thursday is almost Friday, and thus the weekend is close.

Kopf hoch, Donnerstag ist Vizefreitag!

informal

"Am Sankt-Nimmerleins-Donnerstag."

— An idiom meaning 'never'. Similar to 'when pigs fly'.

Das wird er wohl am Sankt-Nimmerleins-Donnerstag erledigen.

informal/idiomatic

"Donnerstags wird abgerechnet."

— A phrase sometimes used in business or sports meaning that results are finalized on Thursday.

Keine Ausreden mehr, donnerstags wird abgerechnet.

colloquial

"Grüner Donnerstag."

— Another name for Maundy Thursday, associated with eating green foods for health and luck.

An einem grünen Donnerstag muss man Kräuter essen.

traditional

"Ein schwarzer Donnerstag."

— Refers to a day of financial disaster, specifically the 1929 stock market crash.

Der Börsencrash begann an einem schwarzen Donnerstag.

historical/economic

"Donnerstag ist Markttag."

— A common phrase in many towns where the weekly market is traditionally held on Thursdays.

Wir gehen heute in die Stadt, denn Donnerstag ist Markttag.

neutral

"Vom Donnerstag bis zum Mittag."

— A humorous way to say something lasted a very short or specific amount of time.

Seine Motivation hielt nur vom Donnerstag bis zum Mittag.

slang

"Ein echter Donnerstag."

— Used to describe a day that feels heavy or stormy (referencing 'Donner').

Nach dem Streit war das ein echter Donnerstag.

poetic/informal

"Donnerstags ist alles anders."

— A phrase used when a routine is specifically broken every Thursday.

Normalerweise koche ich, aber donnerstags ist alles anders.

informal

"Den Donnerstag zum Freitag machen."

— To start celebrating the weekend a day early.

Wir machen heute den Donnerstag zum Freitag und gehen aus.

informal

Facile à confondre

der Donnerstag vs Dienstag

Both are days of the week starting with 'D'.

Dienstag is Tuesday (the 2nd day), while Donnerstag is Thursday (the 4th day).

Ich habe am Dienstag und am Donnerstag Unterricht.

der Donnerstag vs donnerstags

It looks like a plural but is an adverb.

Donnerstag is the noun (the day), donnerstags is the adverb (on Thursdays).

Ich arbeite donnerstags immer lang.

der Donnerstag vs Donner

It is the first part of the word.

Donner means thunder, a weather phenomenon. Donnerstag is a day of the week.

Nach dem Blitz kommt der Donner.

der Donnerstag vs Gründonnerstag

Contains the word but has a specific meaning.

It is specifically Maundy Thursday, not just any Thursday.

Gründonnerstag ist vor Karfreitag.

der Donnerstag vs Donnerstagnacht

Gender changes in the compound.

Donnerstag is masculine, but Donnerstagnacht is feminine because of 'die Nacht'.

In der Donnerstagnacht hat es geregnet.

Structures de phrases

Heute ist [Tag].

Heute ist Donnerstag.

Am [Tag] [Verb] ich.

Am Donnerstag arbeite ich.

Ich [Verb] [Tag]s.

Ich komme donnerstags.

Jeden [Tag] [Verb] wir.

Jeden Donnerstag spielen wir.

Bis [Tag] muss [Sache] fertig sein.

Bis Donnerstag muss der Bericht fertig sein.

Können wir auf [Tag] verschieben?

Können wir auf Donnerstag verschieben?

Wegen des [Tag]s...

Wegen des Donnerstags...

Der für [Tag] geplante...

Der für Donnerstag geplante Termin...

Famille de mots

Noms

Adjectifs

Apparenté

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely frequent in daily life, work, and media.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'in Donnerstag' for 'on Thursday'. → am Donnerstag
German uses 'am' (an dem) for days, never 'in'.
Confusing 'Donnerstag' with 'Dienstag'. → Donnerstag (Thursday)
This is the most common mistake for beginners. Associate 'Donner' with 'Thunder'.
Writing 'donnerstags' with a capital letter when used as an adverb. → donnerstags
Adverbs of time are not capitalized in German.
Saying 'jedem Donnerstag'. → jeden Donnerstag
Time expressions indicating 'when' without a preposition usually take the accusative case.
Using 'auf Donnerstag' to mean 'on Thursday' in a general sense. → am Donnerstag
'Auf Donnerstag' is only used when moving an appointment 'to' Thursday.

Astuces

Always Masculine

Remember that all days of the week are masculine. This makes it easier to remember the articles and adjective endings.

Thunder Connection

Associate 'Donnerstag' with 'Donner' (thunder) to never forget it's Thursday (Thor's day).

Short O

Keep the 'o' in 'Donnerstag' short. A long 'o' will sound incorrect to native speakers.

Vizefreitag

Use the word 'Vizefreitag' with German colleagues to show you understand the local office culture.

Compound Words

Combine the day with times of day like 'Abend' or 'Morgen' into one word: 'Donnerstagabend'.

Listen for 'Do'

In fast conversations, focus on the first syllable 'Donn' to quickly identify the day.

Am vs. Jeden

Use 'am Donnerstag' for one event and 'jeden Donnerstag' for a recurring one.

Thor's Hammer

Visualize Thor's hammer hitting the fourth day of the week to remember the meaning.

Double N

Don't forget the double 'n' in 'Donnerstag'. It follows the short vowel rule.

Abbreviation

Use 'Do.' in your notes and calendar to save space, just like Germans do.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Donner' as 'Thunder'. Thursday is 'Thunder-day'. Thor is the god of thunder, and Thursday is his day.

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant hammer (Thor's hammer) striking a calendar on the fourth day with a loud 'Donner' (thunder).

Word Web

Woche Mittwoch Freitag Donner Thor Vizefreitag Termin Kalender

Défi

Try to say 'Am Donnerstag esse ich...' three times fast with a different food each time.

Origine du mot

The word 'Donnerstag' originates from the Old High German 'donarestag'. It is a Germanic translation of the Latin 'dies Iovis' (day of Jupiter).

Sens originel : Day of the Thunderer (Donar/Thor).

Germanic

Contexte culturel

No major sensitivities, though 'Gründonnerstag' is a solemn day for some Christians.

English speakers should note that German weeks start on Monday, making Thursday the 4th day, whereas some English calendars show it as the 5th day (if starting on Sunday).

Gründonnerstag (Religious tradition) Schwarzer Donnerstag (1929 Crash) Europa League (Thursday night football)

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Making an appointment

Geht es am Donnerstag?
Haben Sie am Donnerstag Zeit?
Passt Ihnen Donnerstag um zehn?
Ich kann erst am Donnerstag.

Office work

Die Deadline ist Donnerstag.
Wir besprechen das am Donnerstag.
Bis Donnerstag muss das fertig sein.
Schönen Vizefreitag!

School/University

Die Vorlesung ist donnerstags.
Am Donnerstag schreiben wir einen Test.
Donnerstag ist mein langer Tag.
Hast du am Donnerstag frei?

Travel/Transport

Der Zug fährt am Donnerstag.
Gültig von Montag bis Donnerstag.
Anreise am Donnerstag.
Ab Donnerstag gibt es Baustellen.

Socializing

Wollen wir am Donnerstag ausgehen?
Kommst du am Donnerstag vorbei?
Donnerstagabend ist After-Work.
Wir sehen uns Donnerstag!

Amorces de conversation

"Was hast du diesen Donnerstagabend so vor?"

"Ist Donnerstag für dich auch schon fast Wochenende?"

"Gehst du am Donnerstag auch zum After-Work-Event?"

"Hast du am Donnerstag Zeit für einen Kaffee?"

"Welche Pläne hast du für den kommenden Donnerstag?"

Sujets d'écriture

Schreibe über deinen typischen Tagesablauf an einem Donnerstag.

Warum wird der Donnerstag oft als 'Vizefreitag' bezeichnet? Was ist deine Meinung dazu?

Was war das Beste, was dir an einem letzten Donnerstag passiert ist?

Planst du deine Woche eher bis Donnerstag oder bis Freitag?

Welche Traditionen oder Termine hast du jeden Donnerstag?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

All days of the week in German are masculine, so it is 'der Donnerstag'. This remains true for most compounds like 'der Donnerstagabend', except when the last word is feminine, like 'die Donnerstagnacht'.

The correct phrase is 'am Donnerstag'. This is a contraction of 'an dem Donnerstag'. You should never use 'in' or 'auf' for days of the week in this context.

The standard abbreviation is 'Do.'. You will see this on calendars, timetables, and in written notes.

'Vizefreitag' literally translates to 'Vice-Friday'. It is a colloquial term used to express that Thursday is almost Friday, signaling the start of the weekend mood.

No, 'donnerstags' is an adverb meaning 'on Thursdays' (regularly) and is not capitalized unless it is at the beginning of a sentence.

It is named after Donar (Thor), the Germanic god of thunder. It is a translation of the Latin 'dies Iovis' (Jupiter's day).

Think of the word 'Donner' (thunder). Thunder is loud and powerful, just like the middle/end of the week. Also, 'Donnerstag' has more letters than 'Dienstag', just as it comes later in the week.

Yes, 'jeden Donnerstag' means 'every Thursday' and is a very common way to express regularity. Note that it is in the accusative case.

Gründonnerstag is Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. It is a significant religious and cultural day in Germany.

The plural is 'die Donnerstage'. It is used when referring to multiple Thursdays, such as 'Die Donnerstage im Mai sind alle besetzt'.

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